Half-track cars had been developed the United States Army from early 30s as soon as the US Ordnance Department studied the effective Citroen-Kegresse half-tracks from France. Different organizations in the united states developed half-track designs on behalf of the Ordnance Department, the Gunningham engine company producing 1st, designated T1, in 1932. By 1940 development work resulted in the Half-track T14 in which the layout and appearance of all subsequent W.W.II period United states half tracks was finalised. Later in 1940 aided by the war already gripping European countries, the usa commenced a big re-armament programme, plus in September 1940 the present T14 was standardised and purchased into production since the Half-track M2. The half-track was envisaged as an artillery prime mover, the M2 being prepared to tow the 105mm industry howitzer and carry its team and ammo. This was in fact the original role regarding the French Citroen-Kegresse. The effective utilization of the Hanomag half-track in armoured infantry part by the Germans in 1940 demonstrated that such a vehicle could be invaluable toward United States Army, so that the existing T14/M2 design ended up being adjusted as an infantry carrier, with seats for infantry and stowage due to their hands and equipment. Underneath the designation Half-track Personnel Carrier M3 this automobile became understood and much more trusted than the initial M2. While the M2 had interior ammunition lockers, the M3 human anatomy ended up being 10 ins much longer with a back home. The subsequent model M3A1, had a &39;pulpit&39; to just take an AA machine gun, while the M3 it self had a simple pedestal mount.
The united states Forces made a research of this German campaigns in European countries in 1940 and appreciated that anti-aircraft defence of ground forces could be vital in virtually any future operations in which comparable &39;blitzkrieg&39; techniques involving close Luftwafte atmosphere help would oftimes be encountered once again. So that you can produce anti-aircraft cars quickly it had been realised your current half-track design had been big and stable enough to be adapted, though as a long term aim the Ordnance Department developed full-track AA cars including the M19. Meanwhile some half-track designes were quickly produced, the T1E1 with Bendix turret, T1E2 with Maxson turret, and T1E3 with Electro-dynamic turret. They certainly were M2 automobiles with the turret positioned in a corner compartment. The turrets were of aircraft type, the T1E3 also keeping the perspex canopy. The effetiveness for the concept was shown, the Maxson turret associated with the T1E2 being chosen. A production model, the T1E4, was built, with all the Maxson turret on a M3 car. Standardised as Several Gun Motor Carriage M13, over 500 had been built. A greater model, with four .50 cal device weapons had been stated in April 1942, the prototype being designated GMC T58. This was standardised as Gun engine Carriage M16, and 724 were built by White Motor Co in 1942-3. The same vehicle (however with flat section mudguards and curved super-structure corners) had been the M17 built by Global Harvester Co in the comparable Half-track M5, over 1,000 of those had been made.
